Smart Dubai welcomes delegation from Singapore’s Smart Nation

A delegation from Singapore’s Smart Nation and Digital Government Group, SNDGG, paid a full-day visit to the Smart Dubai Office, SDO, headquarters at the Dubai Design District, d3, on Sunday.

The SNDGG delegation was headed by Ng Chee Khern, Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Smart Nation and Digital Government, and included Jacqueline Poh, Chief Executive of the Government Technology Agency of Singapore, GovTech, as well as several officials from Singapore’s Smart Nation and Digital Government Office, SNDGO, GovTech, the Information and Media Development Authority and Singapore’s Ministry of Communications and Information.

Singapore Ambassador to UAE Samuel Tan and Singapore Consul-General in UAE Cheong Ming Foong also accompanied the delegation.

"Smart Dubai is committed to exploring, implementing and developing best practices with regards to cutting-edge technologies and their implementation in smart-city infrastructure," said SDO’s Director-General Dr. Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr.

"Exchanging insight and expertise with like-minded organisations, such as Singapore’s Smart Nation and Digital Government Group, allows us to share our successes and advancements, on the one hand, while gaining further insight and a new perspective on smart city transformation.

"Singapore has been remarkably successful in that regard, and we are happy to be hosting such a high-profile delegation of experts from the city-state. Such rapport allow us to expand our knowledge and reflect a positive image of Dubai and the UAE as a hub for smart technology all of which brings us one step closer to fulfilling our ambition to establish Dubai as the smartest and happiest city in the world," she added.

Dr. Aisha welcomed the delegation to the Smart Dubai headquarters, accompanied by Wesam Lootah, CEO of the Smart Dubai Government Establishment; Younus Al Nasser, CEO of the Dubai Data Establishment; and Zeina El Kaissi, SDO’s Head of Emerging Technology and Global Partnerships.

The delegation and the Smart Dubai Office exchanged best practices and knowledge related to their digital transformation plans, data efforts, emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge city technology efficiency solutions.

The Singapore delegation’s full trip included visits and meetings with the Dubai government and private entities, including the Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Future Accelerators, the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Health Authority, Avanza Solutions and Du.

SNDGG is an umbrella group encompassing the SNDGO and GovTech, and working under the aegis of the Prime Minister’s Office of Singapore. The Group is mandated with applying digital and smart technologies to improve citizens’ lives, developing the digital enablers and platforms to grow economic value and encourage innovation, and driving digital transformation for the public service to strengthen government ICT infrastructure and improve public service delivery.